Last week, Senator Coons took part in a launch celebration unveiling the new Horn Program in Entrepreneurship at UD.
Made possible by a generous gift from Charles and Patricia Horn, this program will encourage students to pursue the kind of entrepreneurial ideas that will power Delaware’s economy for years to come.
The Horn program will enhance and expand entrepreneurial studies at UD and be made up of a variety of initiatives like the Venture Development Center, a student business incubator, Hen Hatch, UD’s premier startup funding competition and an annual President’s Forum on Innovation and Entrepreneurship. It will also support new curricular offerings at both the undergraduate and graduate levels.
Chris believes that supporting our innovators and entrepreneurs is critical to our economic recovery.
To read more about his work to create jobs and promote American economic competitiveness, click here.
The American Society of Civil Engineers recently published a new report making clear the economic necessity of investing in our nation’s infrastructure. The report, entitled Failure to Act: The Economic Impact of Current Investment Trends in Airports, Inland Waterways, and Marine Ports Infrastructure, highlights the broad economic repercussions of failing to invest in our nation’s trading centers.
The report’s economic findings demonstrate the urgent need for significant investment in our aging infrastructure—for our continued productivity, our economic competitiveness and the affordability of the millions of household goods that traverse our ports. An investment of $15.8 billion is needed by 2020, the report finds, to close the funding gap and accommodate trade growth in our marine ports and inland waterways. The stakes are high. If we fail to close the gap, the report estimates cumulative losses of $697 billion in GDP, $1.3 trillion in business sales, $872 billion in disposable personal income, and $270 billion in exports By 2040, these losses reach into the trillions of dollars.
Senator Coons has been an outspoken advocate for infrastructure investment, co-sponsoring legislation such as the Building and Upgrading Infrastructure for Long-Term Development Act,the Rebuild America Jobs Act and the Harbor Maintenance Act that invest in America’s future while providing high wage, high skill jobs for American workers.
The Port of Wilmington plays a critical role in Delaware’s economy, transporting more than five million tons of goods and generating nearly $30 million in state tax revenue each year. The port’s operations provide jobs for 5,000 Delawareans and planned expansions could create up to 75,000 jobs in the region. The Delaware River Deepening Project, slated for completion in 2017, would dredge the Delaware River from a depth of 40 feet to 45 feet, which will attract larger, more efficient cargo ships and increase Wilmington’s competiveness on the Eastern Seaboard. Chris is committed to ensuring its completion and will keep fighting to make sure the Port of Wilmington has the resources it needs to thrive.
On Monday, Senator Coons spoke with members of the Junior Achievement Titan Challenge. JA’s Titan Challenge is a global online simulation program involving 24 high school students and recent graduates who compete in a virtual economy. The teams of students, coming from China, Russia, Poland, Canada, and the U.S., act as chief executive officers of a virtual manufacturing company as they make business and ethical decisions in an attempt to outperform their competitors.
“JA’s Titan Challenge is about empowering students, allowing them to learn outside the classroom and helping them experience the business world while preparing for their future,” Chris said. “This is a great opportunity for like-minded students and community volunteers from all over the world to compete and learn from one another.”
Junior Achievement is a nonprofit organization and the world’s largest organization that has impacted over 4 million U.S. students with the help of over 178,000 volunteers. JA of Delaware recently received two prestigious awards at the JA National Leadership Conference.
Senator Coons congratulated four Delaware American Legion Auxiliary Boys and Girls Nation leaders Thursday in Washington. The young leaders from the First State are Lael Houston, Rachel Defroda, Donald Wiegner and Christopher Clifton.
“I am always excited to meet our nation’s future leaders, and programs like Boys Nation and Girls Nation are terrific ways for the next generation to learn about our government,” Chris said. “These young men and women will develop essential leadership skills and cultivate strong bonds. This experience puts them on the road to success in their future endeavors.”
Lael Houston, of Dover High School, and Rachel Defroda, of Delaware Military Academy, were the two Delawarean women ‘Senators’ elected out of the 49 Girls State participants. Donald Wiegner, of Delaware Military Academy, and Christopher Clifton, of Sussex Technical High School JROTC, were elected out of 98 Boys State participants.
The week-long immersion program held in the nation’s capital teaches ambitious young men and women about how the federal government works. Two participants per state, known as “Senators,” are chosen from the Boys and Girls State program. The men and women create a mock legislature where they run for office and elect a mock U.S. Boys or Girls Nation President. The students campaign for the passage of bills, participate in Senate sessions, and more. The highlight of the week includes field trips to monuments, meetings with state senators and representatives, and a visit to the White House.
The most important responsibility I have as your senator is to support job creation. Our economy is starting to recover, but there are still far too many Delawareans out of work. That is why we are continuing to host job fairs across the state, connecting job seekers with employers ready to hire, and working to help Delaware businesses access the capital they need to grow and create new jobs.
One of the keys to fueling American economic growth and ensuring we remain competitive in the global economy is putting in place policies that support and sustain innovation. American ingenuity has always been at the core of our economic success. From inventing the light bulb to perfecting the search engine, we have never lacked good ideas. The challenges of the global economy may be new, but America’s advantage – our entrepreneurs and innovators – remains the same. We just have to support their work so they can continue to grow and create jobs.
Over the last few months, I’ve partnered with Republicans and Democrats alike to introduce legislation that will support our most innovative companies – the ones with the highest job-creation potential.
Watching cable news, it would be easy to think the Senate is stuck in partisan gridlock, and to an extent, that is true. Yet there are also decent people of both parties who want to get things done, especially when it comes to our economy. To those of us in Delaware, that is the rule, rather than the exception, but unfortunately, Washington doesn’t always work the same way.
That is why I was so glad to find partners like Senator Marco Rubio from Florida and Senator Jerry Moran from Kansas. They are both conservative Republicans, but I’ve worked with them and Senator Mark Warner, a Democrat from Virginia, on a series of job-creation proposals we bundled together in a bill called the Startup Act 2.0.
The Startup Act 2.0 is designed to promote innovation and jumpstart the economy through the creation and growth of new businesses and jobs. It is based on research showing that for almost 30 years, companies less than five years old have created almost all the net new jobs in America – at an average of about three million new jobs a year. So we pulled together ideas that help bring university research from the lab to the marketplace, ideas that encourage investments in new startup companies and more in the hopes of creating an environment where entrepreneurs can succeed.
Our bill contains an array of job-creating measures for small businesses, such as exempting capital gains taxes on investments in startups, which the independent Kauffman Foundation tells us would unlock $7.5 billion of new investment. It also supports innovative small businesses with an expanded research and development tax credit, an idea Senator Rubio and I introduced together last fall as part of our bipartisan AGREE Act and something I will continue fighting to pass because it is critical for Delaware small business.
With the right resources, American products can be manufactured in Delaware and remain competitive in the global marketplace. It is happening every day across our state, at companies of all sizes, including Miller Metal in Bridgeville, a local shop that is going head-to-head with Chinese metal fabricators – and winning.
We have to continue to support this kind of entrepreneurship and innovation in all sectors of our economy, including in the energy sector. There is going to be a clean energy economy in the years ahead, the only question is whether American businesses, families and workers will be at the center or the periphery. If we want to stay competitive in the race for homegrown, affordable, renewable sources of energy, we have to make sure our financial innovation keeps up with our technological innovation.
That is why this spring, I introduced bipartisan legislation to level the playing field and make a tax credit that has long supported oil and gas projects available to renewable energy projects like wind, solar and biofuels. The bill I wrote with Senator Moran, the Master Limited Partnership Parity Act, could bring significant capital off the sidelines to give clean energy innovators and projects the critical private sector support they need to get their product to the marketplace.
The bottom line is that America’s researchers, business leaders, innovators and entrepreneurs are already working to help create jobs and ensure American competitiveness in the global economy. We just have to support and sustain their hard work, and we cannot take the rest of the year off just because there’s an election coming up. Even in this difficult, partisan atmosphere, we have to find ways to work together and get things done. Innovation will drive American economic competitiveness for generations to come, and our job is to help our innovators and entrepreneurs do their jobs.
Senator Coons is joining Americans across the country in recognizing Saturday as Armed Forces Day. This national commemoration serves as a thank you to all service members and their families who sacrifice so much for our nation.
“The men and women who put their lives on the line to protect our freedom are true heroes, and Armed Forces Day is one way to show them our gratitude for their service to our country,” Chris said. “We also recognize the tremendous sacrifices of the families of our service members. I will to continue to work hard in Washington on behalf of all service members and their families—it’s the least we can do for America’s heroes.”
Created in 1949 by the Department of Defense, Armed Forces Day combines previously separate Army, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard days. Armed Forces Day is not just dedicated to the men and women who serve in the military, but also to their families. To show the appreciation of a grateful nation, all 397 national parks will be issuing free passes on Saturday for active troops and their children to enjoy relaxation, rejuvenation, and just plain fun.
Chris will celebrate Armed Forces Day by attending the Newark Memorial Day Parade at the University of Delaware on Sunday. The event is dedicated to the United States Armed Forces and the Delawareans who have given their lives for freedom. A ceremony will be held on the University of Delaware’s Green at 1:00 pm, followed by a parade on Main Street.
The News Journal reported Wednesday on a new study by the nonprofit Theodore Roosevelt Conservation Partnership, which found that outdoor activities like hunting, fishing, camping, cycling and wildlife viewing contribute nearly $4 billion annually to the economy on the Delmarva Peninsula. While Delaware’s conservation areas are a draw for many tourists in the area, limited public access and infrastructure has kept the ecotourism industry from expanding to its full potential.
Here in Delaware, O'Mara said state and local officials need to do more to market what he describes as a "conservation economy."
The state can help with things such as protecting more land, and providing access through boat ramps and bird-viewing platforms.
But entrepreneurs need to step up and provide guide services, food, lodging and equipment, he said. Even commercial fishermen could tap into the market by providing tours in their off-season.
Senator Chris Coons knows that ecotourism and environmental conservation go hand-in-hand. He has worked in collaboration with other members of the Delaware Congressional delegation and state government to oversee construction of a recreational trail for joggers, walkers, cyclists, and equestrians along the banks of the Chesapeake and Delaware (C&D) Canal. Once completed, this trail will allow easier access for Delawareans to enjoy the local environment.
On Thursday, the Senate passed legislation authored by Senator Coons to avert a crisis in America’s bankruptcy courts system. Chris introduced the Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeship Extension Act to extend 29 temporary bankruptcy judgeships in 14 states and Puerto Rico — including five judgeships in Delaware — at risk of expiration and dramatically overburdening these key federal courts.
Without Congressional action, when a judge in one of these temporary appointments retired, resigned or died in office, they could not be replaced – leaving other judges to take on their caseloads and slowing down the system for everyone. Bankruptcy courts help individuals get a fresh start and corporations restructure without having to lay off workers, making them extremely important to Delaware’s economy.
“Having a full bench of bankruptcy court judges will allow for a renewed economic stability for many who have fallen into financial hardships,” Senator Coons said. “Talented bankruptcy judges can help turn a likely economic loss into a successful reorganization that protects jobs and creditors. This legislation will ensure that these judgeships remain in place and continue to fairly and expeditiously resolve bankruptcy claims — a key component of our economy as companies and individuals get back on their feet.”
More than one-third of the nation’s largest bankruptcies are handled by Delaware’s bankruptcy judges, which are hailed for their experience, speed and predictability. Five of Delaware’s six judgeships have temporary authorizations that have expired. One additional Wilmington-based bankruptcy court is on loan from the eastern district of Pennsylvania, and also has a temporary authorization that has expired.
Faced with increasing demand on the federal court system, Congress has created dozens of temporary bankruptcy judgeships over the last 20 years to help the courts keep pace. The Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeships Extension Act of 2011 heeds the recommendations made last year by the non-partisan Judicial Conference of the United States, whose biennial review urged Congress to prevent the expiration of the 30 temporary bankruptcy judgeships covered by this bill by extending each by five years. The statutory authorization to fill these judgeships, should they be vacated — as happened when Judge Arthur Gonzalez of the Southern District of New York retired this winter — has already lapsed, preventing Congress and the President from appointing a replacement.
The Temporary Bankruptcy Judgeship Extension Act of 2011 was introduced in the Senate in November and passed out of the Senate Judiciary Committee in December. The House of Representatives passed the legislation on December 8. Amended in the Senate Thursday night, the House will have to vote on the legislation again. It is expected to pass.
“I’m grateful to my colleagues in the Senate for coming together in bipartisan way to move this legislation forward,” Senator Coons said. “No one wants to see companies file for bankruptcy, but when they do, it’s important their cases are handled professionally and by a court that isn’t so overloaded with cases that it can’t give them the attention they need. These courts protect American jobs every day. This legislation will help ensure they can continue to do so as our economic recovery grows.”
The bill is co-sponsored by Senators Richard Burr (R-N.C.), Lindsay Graham (R-S.C.), Tom Carper (D-Del.), Kay Hagan (D-N.C.), Lamar Alexander (R-Tenn.), Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-N.Y.), Johnny Isakson (R-Ga.), Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), Dean Heller (R-Nev.), Chuck Schumer (D-N.Y.), and Bob Corker (R-Tenn.).
Senator Coons marked the third annual National Robotics Week and Delaware’s inaugural National Robotics Day at Barclays on the Wilmington Riverfront. Chris joined members of the Forum to Advance Minorities in Engineering (FAME) as they recognized robotics technology as a pillar of 21st century American innovation. FAME, Inc. Executive Director Donald Baker talked with Chris about the growing importance of robotics and the role it plays in encouraging students to pursue careers in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM). In Delaware, FAME is a year-round program that works with students in grades 6 through 12.
“I was impressed to learn that FAME is working to increase the number of women and minority students who decide to go into robotics and the sciences,” said Chris. “Events like Robotics Day are fun to attend, and they also help ensure STEM education is getting the attention it deserves in today’s curriculum.”
The event provided a great opportunity for networking and interaction between students, industry leaders and other experts. As a former student of the sciences himself, Chris was thrilled to participate in National Robotics Day. He encouraged the students in the audience to continue pursuing science and pointed out to the female students that they don’t need to look far for inspiration – the heads of two of Delaware’s largest science-based companies, DuPont and W.L. Gore, are both women.
Note: Kristina Biddle, a student at Saint Mark’s High School in Wilmington, was sponsored by Senator Chris Coons during her semester in the prestigious Senate Page Program.
It was mid-August and I was preparing for my junior year at St. Mark’s High School when I received the call that I had been appointed as Senator Coons’ first United States Senate Page. Before I knew it, my car was packed and I was headed to Washington D.C. I knew I would be waking up at five in the morning, going to school, and working on the Senate floor. Little did I know that I would be attending three joint sessions, having conversations with Senators, and making friends and experiences that would last a lifetime.
During our first week we had to learn all the names and faces of the Senators. I remember all of the Pages sitting in the lobby with our flashcards trying earnestly to make sure we knew every Senator like the back of our hand. We soon learned that we would be sitting on the rostrum each day ready to get the call to run our next errand. Our tasks included getting water and podiums for the Senators, riding the subway to the various buildings delivering papers, going on amendment and roll call runs, and so much more. Our every move was televised because we were on CSPAN every day.
Three days after arriving, we were fortunate enough to attend a rare joint session of Congress where President Obama presented his Jobs Bill. Walking from the Senate Chamber to the House Chamber is an experience itself with all the reporters talking and taking pictures of the Senators and Representatives. We also attended two other joint sessions of Congress. The second one we attended, we heard the President of South Korea speak in the House Chamber. His story was inspiring and we listened through headphones and read the speech to understand what he was saying. The last joint session and my favorite was the State of the Union. We sat in the lobby and saw the spouses of the Senators walking in and out and we felt star struck! We heard the President speak for the second time about his outline for his legislative agenda. How rare to attend our first joint session the first week upon arriving, and our last joint session the week we were departing.
One of my favorite aspects of being a Page was being able to sit and listen to the Senators give speeches. We sat just a few feet away from the debates which were being broadcast all over the country. We heard speeches about the payroll tax cuts and other important matters to our country. One particular day that remains vivid was when the Senate continued its session well into the night, with seemingly endless votes. Although we were tired by the time the Senate adjourned at 2:30 a.m., witnessing the Senate carrying out its work with such perseverance was surreal. We soaked up each new day, learning what cannot be taught in any classroom, with an ever-growing curiosity.
We understood that being a Page had incomparable perks. Namely, the Capitol was our office! Wearing our blue suits, Page pins, and Senate ID’s granted us access to anywhere within the Capitol. We loved walking past signs that said “Senators Only” or “This Corridor is Closed.”
Another bonus was when a celebrity was in the building. I was able to meet Harrison Ford which was exciting. Although we did not meet them, we heard legendary astronauts Buzz Aldrin, Neil Armstrong, and John Glenn give speeches in the Rotunda. Some of us were also lucky enough to catch a glimpse of Bono.
Some of our field trips were very exciting too. My favorites included the annual Army-Navy Game. There were a few previous Pages in attendance who currently attend either the Naval Academy or West Point. We went to the Kennedy Center to see “Billy Elliot,” the Newseum, a college tour of Georgetown University, as well as Williamsburg and Jamestown. We also had many educational field trips to places such as Mount Vernon, Lincoln’s cottage, and even the U.S. Capitol. The Capitol during the Civil War period was of particular interest to me. A tour of the dome where we stood at the very top of the Rotunda and the outside portion of the top of the Capitol’s dome was unforgettable. The sights including views outside the Capitol, the Supreme Court, the Library of Congress, and all of the surrounding monuments were breathtaking.
A day that was one of my personal favorites was December 7th, Delaware Day - the day that Delaware became the first state to ratify the U.S. Constitution. The Senators from Delaware invited us to come to a celebration for Delaware Day which included some of Delaware’s most popular restaurants. It was exciting for me to show my fellow Pages some of the things that make Delaware great.
Another part of being a Page was attending the Page School. School began promptly at 6:15 a.m. The teachers sacrificed their own time and were there at 5:30 each day to provide us with any help we needed. The length of each class depended on what time the Senate was going into session that day. Therefore, we could have fifty minute periods or just fifteen minute periods. No matter how short or long the periods, they made sure they filled in each minute with teaching new information. The school teachers had high expectations of us and were always willing to help us as much as we needed them. They challenged us to our greatest potential. My math teacher also came into school on Sundays to help those of us who were musicians. It really meant a lot to us knowing that they were willing to help us in our interests outside of school.
Being a Page is a unique experience that only thirty teenagers get to do for a semester. The students here are different from the typical American teenager. This group wanted more than the average high school experience. The Senate Page Program offered us the adventure we were looking for with its demanding schedule and numerous unknowns. A common quality within this select group was the driving force of curiosity in every aspect of our lives. Because we came from all parts of the country, there were many differences that we naturally carry with us. These differences are what make us interesting and interested in one another. I know that we are all connected through the Page experience and we will always be connected for the rest of our lives.
I am filled with extreme gratitude to Senator Coons for sponsoring me throughout this exceptional journey.
Senator Coons congratulated four Delaware American Legion Auxiliary Boys and Girls Nation leaders Thursday in Washington. The young leaders from the First State are Lael Houston, Rachel Defroda, Donald Wiegner and Christopher Clifton.
